House unanimously supports strengthening pay-equity law

THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators' and representatives' votes on roll calls from the week of July 11-15:

CLOSE THE GENDER WAGE GAP (H 4509): The House approved (158-0) a bill that would strengthen the Bay State's pay-equity law by closing the wage gap between men and women doing the same job. The measure requires that women be paid equal pay for comparable work unless the variation is based upon mitigating factors including seniority; a system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production, sales or revenue; and education, training or experience.

The proposal establishes pay transparency, prohibits screening of prospective employees based on salary history, requires fairness in hiring practices and increases fines for violations. Other provisions prohibit employers from reducing salaries in order to comply with the new law and from preventing employees from talking about their salaries.

The Senate has approved a different version of the bill and a House-Senate conference committee will hammer out a compromise version.

WAGE THEFT (S 2416): The Senate approved (38-2) and sent to the House a bill to prevent wage theft by employers. Wage theft includes paying below the minimum wage, neglecting to pay overtime and paying workers in cash to avoid paying taxes.

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Key provisions of the proposal make companies that contract with a subcontractor that withholds wages liable for those wages, and give the attorney general the power to shut down a company within 96 hours if a wage-theft violation is found and left uncorrected.

(A "Yes" vote is for the bill. A "No" vote is against it.)

YES: Sens. James Eldridge, Jennifer Flanagan and Anne Gobi

ANGEL INVESTORS' TAX CREDIT (S 2423): The Senate approved (34-6) an amendment giving "angel investors" a state tax credit equal to 20 percent of the amount of the investment they make in a qualifying business. In order to qualify, the business must have its principal place of business in Massachusetts, have at least 50 percent of its employees in the business' principal place of business, employ 20 or fewer full-time employees and have gross annual revenues equal to or less than $500,000. The tax credit rises to 30 percent if the business is located in one of the state's struggling cities, known as gateway cities.

(A "Yes" vote is for the tax credit. A "No" vote is against it.)

YES: Flanagan and Gobi

NO: Eldridge

RESTRICT CREDIT CHECKS ON EMPLOYEES (S 2425): The Senate approved (39-0) and sent to the House a bill that would restrict employers from requiring credit checks of potential and current employees. The measure permits credit checks under limited circumstances including if the applicant or employee applies for or holds an executive or managerial position at a financial institution or a position that requires national security clearance.

(A "Yes" vote is for the bill.)

YES: Eldridge, Flanagan and Gobi

MODERNIZING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (S 2410): The Senate approved (40-0) a lengthy bill aimed at modernizing municipal finance and government. The bill updates or outright repeals several archaic laws and creates a new law allowing communities to issue driver citations electronically. Many provisions in the bill are technical and the measure has been called "the most boring weed-whacking stuff you ever saw in your life," by Gov. Charlie Baker.

The proposal gives municipalities more control over local funding decisions, local regulations and the issuing of local liquor licenses, as well as the option to enter into joint powers agreements to provide services regionally.

The House has approved a different version of the bill and a House-Senate conference committee will likely hammer out a compromise version.

(A "Yes" vote is for the bill.)

YES: Eldridge, Flanagan and Gobi

NEW LOCAL TRANSPORTATION TAX (S 2410): The Senate approved (33-7) an amendment giving cities and towns an option to levy a local payroll, sales, property or vehicle excise tax to pay for local transportation costs including maintaining, repairing and building roads, bridges, bikeways and pedestrian pathways, as well as making improvements in public transportation and transit systems. The tax would have to be approved by a city council or board of selectmen, and then by local voters on a ballot.

("Yes" vote is for allowing cities and towns to raise taxes. A "No" vote is against allowing it.)

(A "Yes" vote is for allowing online gambling. A "No" vote is against it.)

YES: Flanagan and Gobi

NO: Eldridge

Also up on Beacon Hill

ALLOW MORE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS (S 542): The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Baker a proposal that would allow donors to contribute the maximum $1,000 twice per year to a candidate who runs for the Legislature in a special election and a regular election in the same year. Current law only allows donors to give a maximum of $1,000 in any calendar year.

BALLOT QUESTIONS ARE ASSIGNED NUMBERS: The four questions that will be on the November ballot have been assigned numbers by Secretary of State Bill Galvin. The four questions are: 1. Allowing one more slot parlor with 1,250 machines to be built near Suffolk Downs; 2. Allowing the state to open up to 12 new charter schools annually; 3. Prohibiting any farmers from confining any pigs, calves or hens in a way that prevents the animal from lying down, standing up, fully extending its limbs or turning around freely; and 4. legalizing, licensing, regulating and taxing the sale of marijuana for adults over 21.

"RIGHT TO DRY" (S 1056): The Senate approved a local option proposal that would prohibit a city or town from outright banning any homeowner or tenant from using a clothesline to dry clothing. The law would only take effect in cities or towns that opt into it. Condominium associations and landlords would be allowed to place reasonable restrictions on the placement and use of clotheslines, but could not ban them.

BAKER SIGNS LEGISLATION HELPING SOLDIERS: Gov. Baker signed into law a bill that would help veterans by improving their access to housing and education and protecting them from discrimination. Provisions include establishing the new Office of State Veterans' Homes and Housing; giving veterans preference in public housing; allowing cities and towns to permit property taxpayers to check off a box on their property tax bill and donate money, above their tax liability, to help local veterans with food, transportation, heat and oil expenses; and making all children of prisoners of war eligible for the Public Service Scholarship.

HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK'S SESSION? During the week of July 11-15, the House met for a total of nine hours and 11 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 30 hours and eight minutes.

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